The next day
Yesterday was fun. We should really do that more often. After dinner with Lena, she had a chauffeur drive her home, but we did exchange numbers, so if either of us wants to talk or hang out again, we can just call. But playtime's over. Right now, I'm heading to the meeting room. Peggy wanted to talk to me, and I'm still wondering why so early.
I stepped into the meeting room. Peggy and Sage were already there, both looking way too awake for this hour. I dropped into a chair.
"What's going on? Did the mission go well yesterday?" I asked.
"Yeah, both of them," Sage replied, glancing at her tablet. "Kimiko did a number on Bucky, and Polaris and her team rescued all the mutants. Everyone's safe, and we captured the main leaders behind it. We also pulled a ton of data from the base, some of it's pretty interesting, but we'll go over that later. For now, there's something Peggy wants to talk about."
I looked at Peggy.
"Well, first, I think Steve should meet his children," she said. "We know the risks, but thanks to that mind-blocker, we can eliminate most of the exposure. Steve will be careful; he isn't going to start spilling secrets about the other heroes. He just wants to be a father. If the Frost sisters let him into their lives, we can't take that away from him, and it might even help us build a better alliance with Emma Frost."
I chewed on that. Peggy had a point. Emma wasn't the ice-queen caricature from some comics runs, but she was still Emma Frost, smooth, dangerous, and never fully trustworthy. I didn't love the idea, but I couldn't keep Steve from his daughters. Maybe we could work with her, without getting burned. Besides, my civilian life was stalled; if Emma could trade some cover for help taking down a few of her enemies, that would be useful.
She can give me the Hellfire Club's network and a list of their fronts. I can take them down while she absorbs the companies. Win-win.
"Ok, I will allow it. What's the other thing?" I ask
"It's about Bucky and Ruby," Peggy said, her tone careful but direct. "We both know you still haven't told Ruby that Bucky's her father. Plo Koon's been working on repairing Bucky's mind, sooner or later, he's going to be stable again. He'll need therapy, yes, but don't you think they both have a right to know?"
I went quiet. She wasn't wrong, I just… didn't know how to say it. I'd tried a few times, but every single time I'd chickened out at the last second. Ruby had made so much progress lately opening up, making friends with Frankie and Amora, finally smiling again. I didn't want to destroy that by dropping a bombshell that her father used to be a ,Hydra assassin.
I just don't want to hurt my friend.
"Do we really have to tell her?" I asked quietly. "Think about what it might do to her. She's never cared about her father before, Peggy."
"That's because that option was never available to her, Ed," Peggy replied, her voice calm but firm. "I know you care about her, and I know you're scared this might mess her up, but think about what happens if she finds out another way. If she learns you knew and kept it from her, that trust between you two? It'll be gone. Completely. And besides… Bucky deserves to know he has a daughter."
I sighed. She was right, she usually was.
"Alright… I'll tell Ruby today," I said, not exactly thrilled about it but knowing Peggy was right. Ruby deserved the truth.
"That's the wisest choice, Ed. Trust me," Peggy said softly.
Before I could respond, a chill swept through the room. My breath came out in a faint mist as the temperature dropped.
"I guess your vacation's over," I muttered.
A familiar shadow formed beside me, Darkblood. He looked the same as always, trench coat and all… except this time he was wearing a flower necklace. Hawaii, huh.
"Yes, it was… fun," he said, voice gravelly as ever. "But it's time to get back to work."
"Who are you?" Sage asked, raising an eyebrow.
I blinked, realizing neither Peggy nor Sage had actually met him before. The only one besides Escanor who knew about Darkblood was me.
Before I could make introductions, Darkblood stepped forward, his tone solemn and dramatic as always.
"The name's Darkblood," he said. "Demon detective. I seek justice for the innocent, to save my own soul, at least I used to. I don't know if my Hell even exists in this world anymore… but my purpose hasn't changed. I help Ed find people too hard for anyone else to find."
Peggy exchanged a glance with Sage, both looking somewhere between intrigued and concerned. I just shrugged.
"Yeah," I said. "Welcome back."
"Do you have a mission for me?" Darkblood asked.
"Not right now," I said. "But I can give you one soon, for now, go do… something."
I turned to Peggy. "Let me know when you and Steve are ready to meet the Frost sisters."
She nodded, and I headed out of the meeting room. It was barely eight in the morning, which meant I knew exactly where Ruby would be.
Training room.
Sure enough, I was right. Ruby was in there, gloves on, hammering away at a training bag like it owed her money. Amora was nearby, leaning against the wall, watching as usual. She never joined in, just observed.
I walked in, heading straight toward Ruby."Hey, Ruby," I said.
She stopped mid-punch, turning toward me with a smirk. "Hey, Ed. I heard you went on a date yesterday. How'd it go?"
I blinked, caught off guard. "That wasn't a date. We were just hanging out as friends."
"Uh-huh. And this 'friend' just happens to be a girl? It's fine, you can tell me. If it went bad, I won't judge, never been on a date myself."
"It didn't go bad," I said, sighing. "But it wasn't a date."
"So… you didn't get her number?"
"I did," I admitted, "but that's not the point. I need to talk to you, alone." My tone shifted, serious.
Ruby immediately picked up on it, her expression hardening. "What is it?"
"This is something I'm pretty sure you don't want anyone else hearing," I said, glancing toward Amora.
Ruby turned to her. "Amora, can you wait in the corridor for me? I'll be out in a minute."
Amora looked like she wanted to argue, but nodded, pushing off the wall and walking out of the room.
"I'll be honest," I said once the door closed, "I didn't think she'd actually listen."
Ruby gave a small smile. "She's changed a lot. She's not the same person you remember. You should talk to her sometime, see for yourself." Her smile faded slightly. "But what's so serious you needed to talk to me alone?"
"It's about your father," I said.
Ruby's brows furrowed in confusion. "What are you talking about? I don't have a father."
"You do," I said gently. "Just… sit down and let me explain."
She hesitated, then sat on the nearby bench. I took a deep breath and told her everything, everything I knew about Bucky, about how Hydra had taken his DNA and used it to create her. How they'd stolen his semen, altered her mother's egg, and engineered her before she was even born. I explained who Bucky really was, the Winter Soldier, Hydra's top assassin, and a super soldier. And why did they thought she could survive the super soldier experiment.
By the time I finished, Ruby was silent. Her expression was blank, distant. She didn't even look at me.
"Ruby?" I said softly.
Her voice came out quiet. "Did my mom know?"
"She didn't even know the Winter Soldier existed," I told her. "But after she gave us the information, I'm sure she looked through the files. So she might know now… but I promise she didn't before."
I sat beside her and placed a hand on her shoulder, letting the silence settle between us. There wasn't anything else to say, not yet.
Ruby's voice trembled slightly. "My mom was basically raised in Hydra, and my dad was brainwashed by Hydra to be their top killer… what does that say about me?"
I looked at her and shook my head. "It says you're a miracle born out of tragedy."
She turned her eyes toward me, searching for something, maybe denial, maybe hope.
"Your mom made a choice to join Hydra," I continued. "Yeah, it was a bad one… but if she hadn't, you wouldn't be here. And Bucky? He didn't have a choice at all. He was forced into it, turned into something he never wanted to be. But I'm sure if he knew you, really knew you, he'd be proud. Because something good came out of all that pain."
I sat beside her, resting a hand on her shoulder. "You've had a hard life from the start, Ruby, but you've been fighting to be better. That matters. That's what your mom and Bucky would want, for you to rise above it."
Her eyes softened a little, but she stayed quiet. I went on.
"We all stumble, we all trip along the way. But what defines us isn't where we came from, it's the choices we make after. If we keep pushing forward, keep trying to be better than we were yesterday… then no matter how dark the tunnel gets, the light always shows up in the end. Maybe faint at first, but it's there. And with strong will, and good friends, family, by your side, you'll get there."
Her lips twitched, just slightly, not quite a smile, but close.
She hugged me, hard. It didn't really hurt, but I could tell she was putting a lot of strength into it. I hugged her back, gently, letting her take whatever comfort she needed.
Thirty minutes later
Now I was suited up, standing in the ground-level briefing room, waiting for Steve and Peggy. Bucky's mind was nearly healed, Plo Koon had been careful, working in intervals so he wouldn't damage anything during the process. Soon, Bucky would be whole again. Ruby already wanted to meet him as soon as it was done.
I'd hesitated at first, worried about how either of them would handle it, but I couldn't say no. Ruby deserved that reunion, and Bucky deserved to know his daughter. Still, I wanted him to have time to recover before facing something that heavy.
As for right now, I was waiting for Steve and Peggy. Steve had been eager, borderline impatient, to meet the Frost sisters. The second Peggy gave him the green light, he rushed to the lab to grab the mind blocker.
I heard footsteps behind me and turned to see them both walking in. Steve and Peggy were dressed in casual clothes, each with a small earpiece and a faint look of determination. Around their necks hung silver pendants, the latest model of the mind-blocker device.
At least they were taking precautions. That was definitely Peggy's idea.
"You two ready for this?" I asked.
"Yes," Steve said firmly. "For anything that happens."
I nodded. "Church, are they all there?"
A blue shimmer filled the air as Church's holographic form appeared beside us, noticeably missing his usual sniper rifle.
"Yep," he said. "Checked all security feeds. The Frost family is in the main office. Once the Ground Bridge opens and you step through, I'll lock the signals, nothing gets in or out."
"Perfect," I said. "Fire up the Bridge."
The circular portal hummed to life, bright green and gold energy swirling as the air bent around it. The three of us stepped through, and landed right in the middle of Emma Frost's main office.
Instantly, everyone on her side tensed up, psychic energy crackling faintly in the air. I raised my hands in a show of peace.
"Easy, Miss Frost. We come in peace, we just want to talk," I said.
Emma's sharp eyes narrowed, confusion flickering beneath her calm façade. "Talk about what, exactly?"
I stepped aside so they could all see Steve and Peggy standing behind me.
"About your baby's daddy," I said casually.
Every single Frost sister froze, pun not intended.
Celeste's eyes widened. "That's impossible."
We all turned toward her.
"I've read everything about Steve Rogers," she continued. "He should be dead."
I gave a small grin. "Well, take a seat and listen up because I've got one hell of a story."
They hesitated, exchanging uncertain looks, before curiosity won out.
"Many months ago," I began, "I found Captain America frozen in a block of ice, end of the story."
Their faces shifted from confusion to shock in real time.
"What the fuck?!" Phoebe blurted, eyes wide.
Celeste started to take a step forward, but Sophie and Phoebe quickly moved in front of her.
"Are you seriously believing any of this?" Phoebe said sharply. "There's no way this is true."
"But why would Arsenal even lie?" Celeste shot back, glancing at me.
"I don't know," Sophie said, crossing her arms, "but no human can survive being frozen in ice. They'd suffocate, or their body would just shut down completely from the temperature drop."
I raised a hand slightly. "You're right, for normal humans. But you're forgetting one very important detail."
Their eyes turned to me.
"He's not a normal human. He has the Super Soldier Serum in his veins," I said. "The serum didn't just enhance him, it preserved him. When he went under, his body entered a hibernation state, slowing everything down to keep him alive. His heart, his metabolism, all of it. That's why he survived being frozen for decades."
Silence fell across the room. Even Emma looked shaken, her usually perfect composure slipping for just a second.
"Believe me," I added, "I wouldn't be standing here with him if I didn't see it with my own eyes."
Emma's voice was cold and controlled. "Okay, let's say this really is the real Steve Rogers. Why did you bring them here?"
"Oh, that's easy," I said, tilting my head toward her. "After I found out your daughters were also his daughters, I told his… girlfriend? Wife? Friend? What are you two, anyway? I never actually asked." I looked at Peggy and Steve.
"I'm his girlfriend," Peggy said.
"Really? Huh." I smirked. "Surprised Steve hasn't put a ring on it yet. Anyway, I told her. She told Steve. And Steve wanted, no, needed to meet his kids."
Emma's jaw tightened. "They're not his children. They're mine."
"They're both of yours," I said evenly. "And you should let them decide whether they want their father in their lives or not."
Her eyes narrowed. "And how do I know this isn't a trap? How do I know he's not some kind of robot? I can't read any of your minds."
"Yeah," I said, shrugging. "That's on purpose. I'd rather not have one of the Hellfire Club's leaders rummaging through my head. The mind-blockers I built keep that from happening." I paused, then added, "But if you're still not convinced, take a bit of his DNA. Run your own test. You'll see for yourself."
The sisters all looked stunned, mostly because I'd just casually outed Emma as the White Queen of the Hellfire Club.
Her eyes narrowed dangerously. "How do you—"
"I know things you wouldn't believe," I interrupted smoothly.
The tension in the room was thick, and for a moment, no one said a word. Then Steve stepped forward, his voice calm but full of emotion.
"Look… I know this is hard to believe. Trust me, sometimes even I can't believe it myself. Feels like I might wake up any second back in my old house in Brooklyn." He exhaled slowly. "But I am the real Steve Rogers. And I am your father. All I want… the only thing I'm asking for… is a chance to get to know you."
The room went quiet again, only this time, the tension wasn't from hostility. It was from uncertainty… and maybe, just maybe, a little bit of hope.
The Frost family exchanged silent glances, a clear sign they were communicating telepathically. Emma's expression stayed perfectly composed, unreadable as always, but her daughters couldn't hide their emotions.
Phoebe's face was tight with suspicion, and Sophie and Mindee didn't look any more convinced. Celeste and Esme, on the other hand, seemed… hopeful, like they wanted to believe this was real.
Emma finally closed her eyes, folding her arms as if weighing every possibility. After a long, quiet moment, she stood from her chair and walked toward Steve Rogers.
"Give me your hand," she said.
Steve blinked, caught off guard, but complied. He extended his arm, and Emma gently rolled up his sleeve, placing her fingertips on his forearm, searching for something unseen.
"When I found my daughters," she said slowly, "I also found a file on you. It contained things… very personal things, details that never made it into the public record." Her gaze lifted to his, sharp and testing. "So I'm going to ask you one question. Only the real Steve Rogers would know the answer."
Steve nodded. "Alright. What is it?"
"When Dr. Erskine was recruiting you," Emma asked, "what did you say to him? What words convinced him you were the one, that you deserved to become the first super soldier?"
Steve didn't hesitate. His voice was calm, steady, the kind of answer that came from memory, not rehearsal.
"I told him I didn't want to kill anyone," he said. "I just don't like bullies, no matter where they're from. Those were my words. That's how I passed his test. Becoming a super soldier wasn't handed to me; I had to earn that right."
The room fell into stunned silence. Even Emma's composure cracked for the briefest moment, just enough to show that deep down, she knew he was telling the truth.
Emma released his hand and silently returned to her seat. For a moment, no one spoke; the only sound in the room was the faint hum of the air system. Then she looked up, calm and certain.
"That is the real Steve Rogers."
Phoebe's eyes widened. "Wait, what? Mother, how?"
"I don't know how he's standing here," Emma admitted, her tone thoughtful. "But he answered my question perfectly, and even caught the small trap I set in it. That man is the real Steve Rogers. Maybe Arsenal truly was telling the truth about how he found him." She straightened, her voice firm again. "I'll leave it to you five to decide whether you want him in your life or not. Take a moment to think about it. I need to have a private word with Arsenal. Wait outside the office."
The sisters hesitated, exchanging uncertain glances. Still, they obeyed. One by one, they turned toward the door. Each of them cast a final look at Steve before leaving. Celeste's gaze lingered the longest, filled with quiet wonder and confusion, and then the door closed behind them, leaving only Emma, Steve, Peggy, and me in the room.
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AN: The auxiliary chapter should be up tomorrow.